Executrix



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. F. GREEN. GONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Patented Oct. 24, 1893.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. F. GREEN. GONDUIT FOB ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Patented Oct. 24, 1893.

fuzz-afar B 25. Mr 3,

I I 077263 y%/f( UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEoRGE F. GREEN, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, .AssIGNoR OF ONE-HALF o OLIVERs. KELLY; MARTHA L. GREEN, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, EXEOUTRIX OF SAIDGEORGE F. GREEN, DECEASED.

CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,493, dated October24, 1893. Application filed April 28, 1892. Serial No. 431,060. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. GREEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conduits forElectric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates-to improvements in [0 conduits for electricrailways.

The object of my invention is to provide a conduit of simpleconstruction adapted to contain the electric conductor orconductors,

through which a supply of electric currentis furnished to a moving caron an electric railway.

' A further object of my invention is to provide a sectional conduit theparts of which may be readily joined together or separated,

the construction being such that some of the sectional parts may bereadily removed when desired, for affording easy access to the interior,for-the purpose of examining or repairing the conductors.

:5 To this end my invention consists in the various constructions andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is 0 a plan viewof asection oftrack to which my improved conduit is shown applied. Fig. 2

is a vertical longitudinal section of the conduit. Fig. 3' is atransverse section of the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section throughthe track, showing the relative arrangement of the conduit and the trackrails. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the conductor supporting devices,shown detached in position for assem bling.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference in the severalviews.

In the said drawings A A, represent the rails of an ordinary streetrailway, which are supported in the usual way upon suitable 5 supportingties A, extending transversely across the track and preferably below thesurface of the ground.

B B, is my improved conduit, which is located centrally between therails A A, and

:preferably supported on longitudinal stringers, B B which rest on theties A, and preferably extended continuously between the .rails on eachside of the said conduit. These stringers B B are preferably formed ofwood and rest directly on the ties A. The conduit B, is formed in threelongitudinal sections a,

a 0. the lower of which is preferably of a semi circular form andprovided with laterally extending flanges a a at or near the upper edgethereof, adapted to rest on the stringers B B Theupper longitudinalsections at a are also provided with flanges a a adapted to rest on theflanges a and be connected thereto by bolts or screws a, which passthrough the respective flanges and also preferably into the stringers BB thus securing all the parts firmly together.

The conduit is made sectional in its length by forming the longitudinalsections a 01/ c of suitable lengths and connecting the same together insuch a manner that the upper sections shall brake joints with the lowersections; i. e. each of the upper sections shall overlap so as toconnect with two lower sections and vice versa.' The upper sections a a,are each preferably formed on the arc of a circle corresponding to thelower portion or section a the said sections being of a suitable widthso that the adjacent upper edges thereof shall stand in proximity butleave an opening 0. between the same. The upper projecting edges of saidsections are alsopreferably provided on the inside with downwardlyprojecting ribs or flanges a, forming beaded edges for the slottedopeniugtfl, on the interior of said conduit.

O, is the conductor which is located within the conduitand placedsufficiently at one side thereof so as to be completely covered andprotected by one of the upper sections of said 0 conduit. The conductor0, consists preferably of a curved metal strip supported at suitableintervals on a suitable supporting strip or block 0, of non-conductingmaterial, rigidly secured to the inner walls of the con- 5 duit. Toprovide for removably securing the conductor to the said strip or block0, I preferably employ bearing locks 0 which rest on a supporting ledgeor shoulder 0*, formed in the strip or block 0. These bearing blocks 0are each formed in two parts I) b, the main or stationary part I), beingprovided with a lower projecting bearing seat or shoulder 11 on whichthe removable part b is adapted to rest. Each of the parts I) b, areprovided on their adjacent faces with notched recesses 17 1), formed toreceive a fastening pin or rivet 11 which extends through the conductorC, and which is formed at each end with suitable heads I) b adapted toengage in countersunk openings in the top of said conductor and at thebottom of the respective recesses 12 as shown in Fig. 5.

In assembling the parts the conductor rests on top of the bearing block0 with the connecting pin or rivet within the recesses 1), between therespective parts of said bearing blocks. The respective parts are thusheld securely together by a yoke 5 which embraces the respective bearingblocks and are firmly secured to the supporting brackets C, by screws orin any other suitable manner.

Means are provided for draining the conduit at suitable intervals byconnecting said conduit to a sewer or other pipe D, by suitableconnecting pipes D. A conduit with a conductor as thus described ispreferably adapted for use with a contact device, such as shown in Fig.l, formed with a series of metallic brushes 0, arranged at one side of asuitable holder E, which passes through the slotted opening a in thesaid conduit and is connected at its upper extremity to the car to whichthe current is to be applied. This particular form of contact device andconductor is made the subject of another application filed by me April28, 1892, Serial No. 431,059. It is obvious, however, that the conduitand conductor herein described is not limited to its use with a contactdevice such as shown, but maybe used with any desired or suitable formof contact device.

I have shown but a single conductor in the conduit, this beingconstructed for use with a system in which the track rails are used forthe return circuit. It is obvious, however, that the same arrangementmay be employed for two conductors, in which case the said conductorswould be arranged on opposite sides of the said conduit.

It will be seen that as thus described Iform a conduit which occupiesbut small compass, the conductor or conductors, being arranged under theupper longitudinal sections which are provided with the inner beadededges a are fully protected from moisture, as any water which finds itsway through the slotted opening a"', will be directed by the beadededges a into the center of the conduit where it is directed through theoutlet openings B, into the sewer D.

When in use with paved streets the tops of the stringers B B will bearranged flush with the top of the paving. The projecting flanges of theconduit will also be preferably let into said stringers so as to standflush with the tops thereof, thus leaving the upper sections a a, of theconduit above the street. The slotted opening a is thus arranged abovethe surface of the street and protected by the sloping sides of theupper sections, so that water which finds its way along the street wouldbe deflected from the slotted opening a, and prevented from entering thesame.

A conduit as thus described would occupy but little space, the totaldiameter being, say from four to six inches. The different sectionscould be readily rolled to the desired shape, and being detach-ablyconnected, ready access can be obtained to the interior of the conduitby removing one or more sections.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with arailway track, of a conduit for electric conductors consisting of alower semi-circular section having projecting side flanges at ornear theupper edges thereof, and two upper sections each having projecting sideflanges at the lower edges thereof, adapted to rest on and be connectedto the flanges of the lower section, cross ties for supporting the railsof said track, and longitudinal stringers on said cross ties, said sideflanges being adapted to rest on said stringers and thus support saidconduit, and a conductor in said conduit, said conductor being supportedin said lower semi-circular section, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

2. The combination with a conduit formed of sections, as described, ofan electric conductor consisting of a metallic strip supported atintervals by suitable supporting brackets of non-conducting materialarranged on the inside ofsaid conduit, bearing blocks for said conductorarranged on said supporting brackets, said bearing blocks being formedin two parts, a connecting pin extending through said conductor and saidbearing blocks, and a connecting loop adapted to embrace the parts ofsaid blocks, and means for securing said loop and thus said bearingblocks to said brackets,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of April,A. D. 1892.

GEORGE F. GREEN.

Witnesses:

ELBERT S. Roos, HARRY C. HOWARD.

